Aerial toy



July 25, 1967 w. c. HANSEN 3,332,645

AERIAL TOY Filed May 16, 1966 82 78 63 56 2 74 F/G. 7 @kea INVENTOR. F/G. 9 WOODROW a. HANSEN BY W Z United States Patent 3,332,645 AERIAL TOY Woodrow C. Hansen, Dublin, Calif. (2819 Lucena Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95132) Filed May 16, 1966, Ser. No. 550,345 8 Claims. (Cl. 244-155) This invention relates to an aerial toy, and more particularly, to a toy parachute propelled by Wind along a kite string and released automatically upon reaching an altitude near the kite.

Several toys are known to perform the same general function but they have inherent problems which impede their use. These problems include excessive weight, improper releasing and high manufacturing costs.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved aerial toy with a positive guide and release mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the weight of an aerial toy, thus enabling it to climb in a light breeze and float great distances upon release.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aerial toy that is economical to manufacturing and simple enough for a child to assemble.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, reference being made to the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view illustrating the application of a toy embodying the present invention to a kite string.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a blank from which a separator is formed.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a parachute and link in assembled form.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a blank from which the link is formed.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the link assembled from the blank shown in FIG. 4.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of the hook end portion of the link shown in FIG. 5.

FIGURE 7 is a front view in elevation of the separator illustrating the manner in which the link is released from the guide line.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of hook which acts as a clamp.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation view of the hook shown in FIG. 8.

Looking now at FIG. 1 of the drawing, a kite 10 is shown being flown at the end of a guide line 12 extending upward from the ground. Separator 14 is secured to the guide line at a location desired for launching an airborne device, such as parachute 16. The parachute is attached to the guide line by a link 18 and moves in the direction of arrow 20 with the wind. Upon reaching the separator, the link and parachute are released from the guide line and descend to the earth, as indicated in phantom line. The components of the toy are the separator, link and parachute.

The separator 14 is formed from a blank of heavy paper, pasteboard or cardboard. The blank is of fan-like shape, as illustrated in FIG. 2, having an arcuate base edge 22 and side edges 26 and 28 which taper therefrom to an apex 24. A hole '30 is positioned near the corner between the base and side edge 28, while a similar hole 32 is positioned near the corner between the base and side edge 26. The separator is assembled by rolling the blank into a conical shape, with side edge 28 overlapping edge 26 and hole 30 registering with hole 32. Guide line 12 is threaded through the holes and comes out the apex of the separator which is pointed towards the ground end of the line, as shown in FIG. 1. Friction between the line 3,332,645 Patented July 25, 1967 ice and separator tends to maintain the desired positioning on the line but a knot placed in the line will further lock the separator in position.

With reference to FIG. 3, the parachute 16 includes a sheet 34 of substantially square shape. A light paper napkin or to-wel has been found to be suitable material for this sheet. Shroud lines 36 and 38 extend diagonally between opposite corners of the sheet and are made of heavy paper or pasteboard. The relative stiffness of the shroud lines with respect to the sheet tends to maintain the sheet in an extended position to receive wind. These shroud lines overlap at their respective midpoints and interlock. Shroud line 36 passes through a pair of slits which outline interlocking panel 40 within line 38. The lines are threaded through link 18 and their ends are glued to the respective sheet corners which overlap thereon. The glue can be applied at the time of fastening the corners to the ends or an adhesive coating can be placed on the ends ahead of time, enabling rapid attachment of the line ends with the sheet corners.

Link 18 is made from a flat blank of heavy paper or pasteboard, as illustrated in FIG. 4. This blank has an eye end 42 with an eye hole 44 cut therein. Intermediate panel 46 extends from the eye end and is bordered by fold lines 48 and 50. Left stiffener 52 is connected along fold line 48 to the intermediate panel, while on the opposite side along fold line 50, right stiffener 54 is attached. A hook end 56 forms the end of the intermediate panel opposite from the eye end and extends to fold line '58. Locking tab 60 is cut within the hook end and is outlined by an arrow shaped cut line 62 together with fold line 64. Upright panel 66 is attached to the hook end along fold line 58 and is further delineated by fold lines 68, 70, and 72. Left spacer 74 is connected to the upright panel along fold line 68 and at the opposite end is slit along line 75. Right spacer 7-6 is attached to the upright panel along fold line 72 and at the opposite end is slit along line 77. A jaw panel 78 joins the upright panel along fold line 70 and has a triangular shaped opening '80 cut therein, to receive the pointed end of the locking tab. A locking panel 82 is connected to the jaw panel along fold line 84 and the length of the jaw panel between opening 80 and fold line "84 is approximately one half of the base diameter of conical separator 14.

Link 18 is assembled in the following manner, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Looking first at FIG. 4, left stiffener 52 is folded upwardly along fold line 48 to a position beyond upright, overhanging intermediate panel 46. Right stiffener 54 is folded in a similar manner along fold line 50. These stifieners give structural rigidity to the intermediate panel. Next, the left spacer 74 is folded inward on line 68 over upright panel 66 and right spacer 76 is folded in a similar manner along line 72. These spacers interlock between slit lines and 77 forming an arcuate wall subtended by panel 66. Panel 66 is then folded upright on line 58 and locking tab 60 is folded upright on line 64. law panel 78 is folded downward on line 70 until the locking tab 60 enters the triangular shaped opening 80, The locking tab is bent slightly, enabling the arrow barbs to fit through the opening, and thereby locks the jaw in position. Left and right spacers 74 and 76, together with upright panel 66, support the jaw panel in spaced relationship above the hook end 56 while locking tab 60 holds the jaw panel in that position. Locking panel 82 is folded downward along line 84 through an angle of more than ninety degrees. The locking panel is retained in this position by contact with the hook end.

After the separator 14, parachute 16 and link 18 have been assembled as previously described, the aerial toy is ready for operation. The separator is secured to guide line 12, at a location preferably near the kite 10, as shown in FIG. 1. The link is then attached to the line by slipping the line between the hook end 56, jaw panel 78, locking tab 60 and locking panel 82, as shown in FIG. 6. The locking panel bends inward allowing the line to slide into position but removal of the line is more diflicult. The jaw panel must bend away from the hook end a sufficient distance to enable the locking panel to snap out of contact therewith and release the line. Rotation of the link in a plane longitudinally with the guide line is prevented by line contact with locking panel 82 and either stiffener 52 or 54 on one side, while on the opposite side contact is made with looking tab 60 and upright panel 66. Thus, the link is locked about the guide line in a man ner resisting sudden jerks due to changing wind currents.

The link 18 and parachute 16 hang down from the line 12 and are free to slide along the line in response to the wind. As sheet 34 of the parachute fills with air in saillike fashion, the link and parachute rotate upwardly towards a horizontal position. Upon reaching the separator 14, the hook end 56 and jaw panel 78 are spread apart, as shown in FIG, 7, in response to the taper of the separator. The resilient jaw panel and hook end exert pressure upon the surface of the separator and slide upward and outwardly therefrom until the link is separated from the line. Since the radius at the base of the separator cone is equal to the length of jaw panel 78 extending from locking tab 60, the jaw panel is separated from the line before reaching the base of the separator. Upon separation, the link drops downward drawing the parachute behind, as shown in phantom line in FIG. 1, and glides to the earth in this manner.

A modified form of link 18 is shown in FIG. 8. The blank shape is basically the same as shown in FIG. 4 but the length of locking tab 63 is less than that of locking tab 60. Thus, jaw panel 78 is forced downwardly into contact with hook end 56 and clamps about line 12, as shown in FIG. 9. Locking panel 82 extends upwardly from the point of contact between the jaw panel and hook end. Assembly and operation of this modified form of link is similar to that of the link previously described.

It will be noted that patterns for separator 14, link 18 and shroud lines 36 and 38 can be cut from a single sheet of pasteboard. Sheet 34 can be fashioned from a light paper napkin or towel. Thus, the manufacturing cost of component parts is held to a minimum and the weight of the aerial toy is minimized. Assembly of the components is interesting and simple enough for a child to perform, While this toy is intended primarily for launching parachute 16, it should be understood that the link and separator can be used for launching a glider or other airborne device. The guide line 12 can be attached to a balloon or pole instead of the kite and the basic operation would be the same.

It will be understood that modifications and variations of the embodiments of the aerial toy disclosed herein may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An aerial toy comprising:

an airborne device,

a link attached thereto including a hook end with a jaw panel linked thereto in spaced relationship fitting about a guide line and being deformable to open in response to pressure between said hook end and jaw panel, and

a tapered separator secured to the guide line with an apex aligned axially thereof directed towards the link and being of a size to fit between said hook end and jaw panel, and a base being of a size larger than the jaw panel so as to force the hook end and jaw panel to deformably open and thereby release the link and airborne device from the line.

2. An aerial toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein said airborne device includes a parachute having a sheet of substantially square shape, and a pair of diagonal shroud lines which interlock and maintain the sheet in an'extended position.

3. An aerial toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tapered separator is of conical shape formed by rolling a fan-shaped blank having an arcuate base and a pair of side edges which taper therefrom to an apex, said blank having a hole located near each corner between the base and each side edge, said holes being adapted to register and receive the guide line passing through the apex.

4. An aerial toy in accordance with claim 1, including an upright-panel connected between said jaw and hook end maintaining spaced relationship therebetween, and a locking tab extending upwardly from said hook end and interlocking with said jaw panel at a point spaced from said upright panel to hold the jaw panel in spaced relationship with said hook end.

5. An aerial toy in accordance with claim 4, including a locking panel foldably connected to said jaw panel and having a length greater than the spacing between said jaw panel and hook end, whereby said jaw panel must deflect outwardly from said hook end to enable the locking panel to open.

6. An aerial toy as set forth in claim 4, wherein said locking tab is of a length proportional to said upright panel for holding an end of the jaw panel opposite from the upright panel in contact with the hook end before deformation thereof.

7. An aerial toy as set forth in claim 2, said link including an eye end having a hole therein opposite the hook end to receive the shroud lines, and

at least one stiffener panel extending lengthwise of said link in a plane substantially perpendicular to the eye and hook ends.

8. An aerial toy in accordance with claim 4, including a first spacer panel foldably connected along one edge of said upright panel and a second spacer panel foldably connected along an edge of the upright panel opposite from said one edge, said first and second spacer panels being adapted to interlock forming an arcuate wall subtended by the upright panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 923,181 6/1909 Jackson 244 1,086,888 2/1914 Bochau 244-155 1,466,194 8/1923 Schwartz 244-155 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner. P. E. SAUBERER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN AERIAL TOY COMPRISING: AN AIRBORNE DEVICE, A LINK ATTACHED THERETO INCLUDING A HOOK END WITH A JAW PANEL LINKED THERETO IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP FITTING ABOUT A GUIDE LINE AND BEING DEFORMABLE TO OPEN IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE BETWEEN SAID HOOK END AND JAW PANEL, AND A TAPERED SEPARATOR SECURED TO THE GUIDE LINE WITH AN APEX ALIGNED AXIALLY THEREOF DIRECTED TOWARDS THE LINK AND BEING OF A SIZE TO FIT BETWEEN SAID HOOK END AND JAW PANEL, AND A BASE BEING OF A SIZE LARGER THAN THE JAW PANEL SO AS TO FORCE THE HOOK END AND JAW PANEL TO DEFORMABLY OPEN AND THEREBY RELEASE THE LINK AND AIRBORNE DEVICE FROM THE LINE. 